49ers dropping games instead of ball carriers

The fundamental was particularly lacking on the defining 54-yard catch-and-run by Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 17-10 loss.

At least six different players had a shot at tackling Boldin, but he slipped past them all before diving into the end zone ahead of cornerback Shawntae Spencer's pursuit.

The player who had the best opportunity, safety Mike Adams, shot toward Boldin but failed to wrap up the receiver. Head coach Mike Nolan said the failure to wrap up is only part of the problem.

"Tackling has a lot to do with pursuit angles to the ball carrier," Nolan said. "When you don't have a lot of guys around the ball, people notice when the tackle was missed. The long play that Boldin got, there were guys around the ball."

Nolan explained that defenses try to put a triangle around a ball carrier, so if he breaks free, other defenders are there to converge.

"We lost leverage," Nolan said of the Boldin play, "and it continued to bounce across the field. If you maintain pursuit angles, you don't notice missed tackles. Most of it is just simple math."

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Photo: John Storey

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Rookie Ben Emanuel said triangle tackling is basic football.

"It's just like if you're a cornerback, you have to force everything inside," Emanuel said. But pursuing can be counterintuitive. Instead of simply chasing a ballcarrier, players have to maintain certain lanes to form the triangle.

"We will continue to teach our young players about that," Nolan said. "That's why with experienced players, they seem to keep the ball corralled all the time."

Timeout, timeout: Nolan said he wouldn't contact the league about his discussion with referee Walt Coleman. Nolan called a timeout after rookie running back Frank Gore fumbled and then challenged the play and lost. So Nolan was charged with two consecutive timeouts, leaving the 49ers without any timeouts for the final 11:28.

Nolan said Coleman gave him bad information about being charged with a second timeout if Nolan lost the challenge.

"(The game officials) did not disagree from the standpoint of yes, they need to give better information," Nolan said.

Plummer opinion: Cornerback Ahmed Plummer went to Florida on Monday to seek another opinion on the bone chips in his ankle. Plummer has been out since September after electing to have surgery to remove the chips. He suited up for the Seattle game Nov. 20, but didn't play.

Injury update: Nolan held out hope that defensive lineman Bryant Young, who sustained ligament damage to his right knee against the Seahawks, could return for Sunday's game in Seattle. "I'm going to do a lot of rehab today and tomorrow and see where it's at," said Young, who has been fitted for a brace that molds around his knee.

Other players who could return include wide receiver Arnaz Battle, who sought an MRI exam last week in the hopes doctors would clear him for the Arizona game. Nolan also mentioned Adams as a possibility to play in Seattle. He sprained his knee against the Cardinals, but returned.

Fullback Fred Beasley, who sustained a shoulder stinger, also might return this week. Halfback Kevan Barlow nearly was ready to play in Sunday's game, but would have been only a backup and Nolan said he wanted players who could contribute on special teams. Barlow is likely to play this week.

Briefly: Nolan said the 49ers' front-office structure could change after the season. "We will get better in the offseason in regard to structure, in regard to people in the building," Nolan said. "As I evaluate a lot things, including myself, I make note of a lot of things that need to be done at the right time. Right now is not the right time."